Monday, 31 December 2018

Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and New Year's Day - A New Beginning, a New Hope


To read the texts click on the texts: Num 6:22-27, Gal 4:4-7, Lk 2:16-21

The first day of the New Year brings with it many thoughts, feelings and emotions. The fact that it is January and named after the Roman god Janus with two faces already indicates that it brings with it a looking back and a looking ahead.

Thus it is a day for retrospection and introspection and also a day for planning and goal setting. The retrospection must be with a view to help the planning and goal setting and not an exercise in condemnation of oneself or feeling regret.

It is fitting then that the first reading of today should speak of a blessing. The blessing is what is commonly called a Priestly blessing and pronounced on all the people of Israel. There are three pairs of verbs used in the blessing resulting in a threefold blessing. The first emphasizes concrete gifts—blessing and protection. The second stresses the hope that God will be well disposed toward the person and thus temper judgement with mercy and grace. The third asserts that God will pay attention and heed to his people thus providing fullness of life. The central message of the blessing is Peace, which must be translated as wholeness or completeness. The peace of God embraces every aspect of an individual’s life.

The idea of blessing is taken up in the Second reading of today. Paul in writing to the Galatians speaks of the blessing that God conferred not just on Israel but on the whole world when he sent his Son. The sending of the Son was for one reason alone, namely to reconcile the world to himself and through that to make each of us sons and daughters of God. The Son that God sent in to the world was not an angel but born of a woman, Mary who dared to say that unconditional yes to God’s invitation to be the mother of his Son.

This son whom God sent is human in every single aspect of the word and is therefore circumcised and given a name. The name that the child bears signifies his function. He is named Jesus because he will save his people from their sins. This child will be king, but a new kind of king. He will inaugurate a new world order, a world not like that of earthly kings but under the direction of God’s design for the redemption of all peoples. In this world, God’s Word is heard by all who remain open to that Word. In this world, there is hope for the oppressed, and those who heard what God is doing are filled with joy. God has not forgotten us or abandoned us to the brokenness we have created. God continues to be concerned and to make new and whole. The New Year thus, is for us as Christians, an announcement of hope. It is a call to continue to believe that God continues to be in control of all the events that will take place and that we only have to do what is required of us and leave the rest to God.

Thus the triple celebration of Mary Mother of God, the giving of the name of Jesus and New Year’s Day all close in on one theme: Hope. The past is over and forgotten; it is forgiven and absolved; it is pardoned and made new. The challenge is for us to respond like Mary did to what God is doing in us and in our world. If we like Mary are open and receptive to the working of God in our lives, if we like her are willing to let God do in us, if we like her are willing to say that unconditional and categorical Yes, then the saviour Jesus will continue to be made present all through the year.

The priestly blessing of peace pronounced on the people in the first reading of today becomes then a blessing pronounced on each of us as we begin the New Year. We must keep in mind throughout the year that like the Galatians we are no longer slaves but sons and daughters of God. This means living in a fearless and bold manner. It means being able to face all the vicissitudes and challenges of life with equanimity and confident in the knowledge that we are loved unconditionally by God and that God will be with us every step of the way in the New Year.

Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - Num 6:22-27, Gal 4:4-7, Lk 2:16-21

Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - Num 6:22-27, Gal 4:4-7, Lk 2:16-21


  1. How many chapters does the letter to the Galatians contain?

  2. Seven
    Ten
    Six

  3. How many chapters does the Book of Numbers contain?

  4. Thirty-seven
    Thirty-six
    Thirty-eight

  5. Afetr how many days was Jesus given his name?

  6. At the end of six days
    At the end of eight days
    At the end of seven days

  7. How many chapters does the Gospel of Luke contain?

  8. Twenty-one
    Twenty-two
    Twenty-four

  9. Who went with haste to find the babe in a manger?

  10. The Wise men
    Herod
    The shepherds

  11. On whom did the Lord pronounce the blessing?

  12. The people of Israel
    Aaron and his sons
    Moses

  13. Who had given the name Jesus?

  14. His mother
    His father
    The angel

  15. Whom did the Lord ask to pronounce the blessing?

  16. Moses
    Aaron
    Aaron and his sons

  17. Whom did the son come to redeem?

  18. Those who were under the law
    Those who were already saved
    Those who did not know him

  19. What is the message of the readings of today?

  20. Jesus' name is a common one to show he is totally part of humanity
    The name Jesus means "God saves"
    Jesus is fully human and fully divine

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Sunday, 30 December 2018

Audio Reflections of Monday, December 31, 2018

To hear the Audio Reflections of Monday, December 31, 2018 click HERE

Monday, December 31, 2018 - What one action will you do to make the incarnate word present today?


To read the texts click on the texts: 1Jn 2:3-11; Jn 1:1-18
The prologue of the Gospel of John is an extremely rich text. Unlike Matthew and Luke who begin their Gospels with stories of the birth of Jesus, the Gospel of John begins with the pre-existent WORD and the relationship of the word to the world. It is Word which is God and also an incarnate word, a word made flesh. Thus the Prologue is concerned with the sphere of God, the eternal sphere and the sphere of human beings the temporal.

Thus the prologue makes two main points.
The first of these is that the abstract, the incomprehensible, the indecipherable, the unknowable, and the absolute mystery which is the Word and God, have become concrete, comprehensible, decipherable, and knowable and a mystery revealed because of the Word becoming flesh. However, this mystery is not as easy to understand as it may seem. Many take offense at this. They want something more spectacular; some divine figure, some hero or god-man, some fascinating, mysterious being, able to impress everyone with the feats of might and glory. But what they saw was only a man; a man of compassion, a man who claimed to speak the truth. And they saw no glory here. But this is how God decided to come. He wanted to be one of us in all our limitations. Thus no longer can we say that our God could not understand what it is like to struggle against the opposition, to have to flee to another country, to be betrayed by a friend, to grieve the loss of a loved one, to fear suffering and death, to experience a seeming absence of his father. No, our God has truly walked our walk; God's Word of Love has truly taken flesh. Through this act of the Incarnation, God and the Word have become Father and Son. God, the Father is revealed in the Son, Jesus. Through this act, heaven has come down to earth and earth and heaven are reconciled as never before. The incarnation means that human beings can see, hear, and know God in ways never before possible. The relationship between divine and human is transformed, because in the incarnation human beings are given intimate, palpable, corporeal access to the cosmic reality of God. The newness wrought by God in Jesus is so dramatic that a conventional narrative of origins is good, but insufficient. That is because the story of Jesus is not ultimately a story about Jesus; it is, in fact, the story of God. When one sees Jesus, one sees God; when one hears Jesus, one hears God.

The second point that the prologue makes is the response of humanity to the incarnate Word. Since the Word is not a Word that is thrust on creation, but given freely and in total generosity, human beings must respond to the Word in freedom. This response is either of acceptance or rejection. One cannot ignore the potent power of the Word.

The rejection of the Word by Jesus’ own people while being a historical fact is a rejection that continues even today. Darkness continues to try to overcome the light. This becomes evident when we look at our world which is a world in which corruption, selfishness, injustice, intolerance, and communal disharmony, racial and caste discriminations continue to raise their ugly heads. It is seen when people still concern themselves with only the desire to have more rather than be more. It is seen when the concern to accumulate for oneself even to the detriment of not giving others their just due overpowers us.

Yet, despite this rejection of the Word, there is a note of hope and promise because there continue to be people who will choose light over darkness and selflessness over selfishness. There will continue to be people who fight for justice and will never give up this cause. There will continue to be people who will generously give not only of their wealth but also of themselves in imitation of the one who became human and gave all. Those who opt for the light can continue to do so because their openness to the Incarnate Word and all that he stands for makes them receive grace upon grace from him. This abundance of grace continues to sustain through the most trying times and gives them the courage never to give up or give in, but to continue and carry on. God became what we are, so that we could understand better what God is, and we could believe with all our hearts that God understands what we are.

Those who dare to accept the light and walk in its ways begin to realize that God himself walks with them and ahead of them. They know that God does not stay distant from them, remote and isolated; rather, in Jesus, God chose to live with humanity in the midst of human weakness, confusion, and pain. This bond holds true for all times and all places. To become flesh is to know joy, pain, suffering, and loss. It is to love, to grieve, and someday to die. The incarnation binds Jesus to the “everydayness” of human experience. The Word lived among us, not simply in the world. The Word became flesh and the Word’s name is Jesus Christ. This Jesus continues to be born in our midst even today. When selflessness triumphs over selfishness; when generosity triumphs over greed; when light overcomes darkness, then Jesus is born again and again.

Monday, December 31. 2018 - 1 Jn 2:3-11; Jn 1:1-18

Monday, December 31. 2018 - 1 Jn 2:3-11; Jn 1:1-18


  1. Through whom was the law given?

  2. Jesus
    John
    Moses

  3. Who was the man sent from God?

  4. Jesus
    John
    Isaiah

  5. Can a person say that he/she is in the light and hate his/her brother/sister?

  6. No
    Yes
    I am not sure

  7. With whom does John say the Word was?

  8. With the Spirit
    With God
    With the world

  9. How many chapters does the Gospel of John contain?

  10. Twenty-two
    Twenty-one
    Twenty

  11. What kind of commandment does John say he is writing?

  12. An old commandment
    A new comandment
    A redundant commandment

  13. What has come through Jesus Christ?

  14. Grace and truth
    Peace and love
    Law and righteousness

  15. What does John say was in the beginning?

  16. The World
    The Word
    God

  17. Who has made the Father known?

  18. The Son in the bosom of the father
    The Holy Spirit
    The Father reveals himself

  19. What is the message of the readings of today?

  20. Our God is with us
    Our God became fully human for our sakes
    Our God is unconditional love revealed in Jesus

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Saturday, 29 December 2018

Sunday, December 30, 2018 - The Feast of the Holy Family


To read the texts click on the texts: Sir 3:2-6,12-14; Col 3:12-21;Lk 2:41-52

The feast of the Holy Family is celebrated every year on first Sunday after Christmas. It is appropriate that such be the case, because for centuries Christmas has been regarded as a family feast. Not only do members of a family get together to celebrate the feast, but the themes of Christmas like the birth of a child, naming of the child, gathering together as a family to celebrate this event, all lend themselves to reflection on the meaning of family.

That family life, under threat today, does not need any kind of in depth analysis. ‘Single parent families,’ unwed mothers, the rampant rate of divorce, are all testimony to this fact. What can the feast of the Holy Family mean in the face of this threat? The readings of today offer a response.

The author of the letter to the Colossians begins by giving the foundations of a good marriage. In a word this may be summarized as “adjustment”. The Colossian Christians are called to adjust with one another in any and all circumstances. To adjust means first of all to have the ability to let go off one’s ego. As long as one holds on to one’s point of view there can be no adjustment and so what is required is an openness and receptivity to accept that one can be wrong, that one does not know everything about everything and that there is lot that is unknown. Secondly to adjust means to be flexible. Rigidity of any kind is a hindrance. There is not just one hand; there is also the other hand. This leads to the third meaning of what it means to adjust: forgiveness. Any community in which forgiveness is not an integral part will be a superficial one. And what is required for sustaining community is likely to be more than a single act of forgiveness; rather, the lives of the people in that community will be characterized by the continuing practices of forgiveness that draw their resources from the forgiveness already enacted by Christ and especially on the Cross. If one realizes that one is forgiven completely by God for any and all wrongs that one has committed then it is easier to forgive others. Encompassing all of these is the reality of love. Love it is which binds everything together and while there are numerous definitions of love, it seems to me that a good way of understanding love is to realize that in love there is no “I”. The other is always more important than self. The other is always placed before self. True and genuine love is not barter exchange but unconditional.

To be sure, the exhortation to wives to be submissive to their husbands in the second part of the text might be misunderstood as servility. Nothing could be further from the truth. In a marriage both the husband and wife are equal partners. There can be no higher and lower rank. There can be no greater and lesser. What there is in fact is complementarity. Males and females need each other to complete the other. If this is understood by both partners half the journey has already been completed.

It is also important to note the role of children and the relationship of children which all three readings speak about. In the first reading from Sirach, the focus is on instructions to children to show honour to their parents. However, in the second reading while children are asked to respect their parents, parents are also asked not to provoke their children. In this context, the words of the famous Christian writer and poet Khalil Gibran take on a depth of meaning. He says to parents that the children who come through them are really life’s longing for itself. Thus they do not really “belong” to their parents but to life which “goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday”. Children “dwell in the house of tomorrow” and so parents have to be like flexible bows that are willing to be bent so that their children like arrows “may go swift and far”. Parents have to learn to grow with their children and keep in touch with all the changes that are taking place around them. They need to learn to be relevant and if they cannot be then to be understanding and accommodating.

The parents of Jesus did not realize this when they looked for him. It was not that Jesus was lost but that Mary and Joseph were lost without their son. However, Jesus made them realize that he was a child not merely of his parents, but of life itself and so his parents had to let him go to do what he had to do. Parents today too need to realize this about their children for family life to be what it is meant to be. When this happens then the feast of the Holy Family will be just that: a feast of holy families which keep inspiring one another to live like the Holy Family of Nazareth.

Sunday, December 30, 2018 - Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Col 3:12-21;Lk 2:41-52

Sunday, December 30, 2018 - Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Col 3:12-21;Lk 2:41-52


  1. To which place did Jesus go with his parents after being found?

  2. Galiee
    Judah
    Nazareth

  3. At which feast did the parents of Jesus go to Jerusalem?

  4. The Tabernacles
    The Passover
    Pentecost

  5. After hoe many days did the parents of Jesus find him in the Temple?

  6. Five days
    Three days
    Four days

  7. When did the parents seek Jesus among kinsfolk and acquaintances?

  8. After three days
    After going a day's journey
    On the fourth day

  9. In whose name must the Colossians pray?

  10. Their own name
    The name of God
    The name of the Lord Jesus

  11. Who has right over the sons?

  12. The mother
    The father
    The grandparents

  13. How old was Jesus when he went to the Temple with his parents?

  14. Six
    Twelve
    Thirteen

  15. Whom does the Lord honour above the children?

  16. The mother
    The father
    The grandparents

  17. How did Mary respond to Jesus' answer?

  18. She was hurt
    She pondered it in her heart
    She corrected him immediately

  19. What is the message of the readings of today?

  20. The Holy Family is the model for all families
    The Family that prays together stays together
    Love binds the family

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Friday, 28 December 2018

Audio Reflections of Saturday, December 29, 2018

To hear the Audio Reflections of Saturday, December 29, 2018 click HERE

Saturday, December 29, 2018 - How will you show that the presence of Jesus has changed your life for the better? What three actions will you perform to show that the coming of Jesus has made a difference to your life?

To read the texts click on the texts: 1 Jn 2:3-11;Lk2:22-35


The text of today consists of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the purification of Mary and the Song of Simeon.

According to Jewish law a woman became ceremonially unclean on the birth of a child. During this time, she was not permitted to enter the Temple or touch any holy object. On the eighth day the child was circumcised, after which the mother was unclean an additional thirty-three days—sixty-six if the child was female. At the conclusion of this period, the mother offered a sacrifice, either a lamb or, if she was poor, two doves or two young pigeons. That Luke does not mention a lamb but refers to two turtledoves or pigeons may indicate that Jesus was born to the poor of Israel.  In addition, the first son was to be presented to the Lord as a reminder of the Exodus, and then, bought back with an offering. Luke does not mention that Jesus was redeemed either because he was not aware of this requirement or because he wanted to convey that Jesus was constantly devoted or dedicated to the Lord. In this part Luke emphasizes that the law of the Lord was fulfilled in all respects at the birth of Jesus.

Simeon is introduced immediately after the presentation of Jesus and the purification of Mary. He too like Zechariah and Elizabeth is described as “righteous”. He is also “devout”. He looked forward to the restoration of the people and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive work. The Spirit, who had revealed to him that he would not see death until he saw the anointed one of God, is the same Spirit who rests on him and gives him utterance to speak.

His hymn of praise of God is known as the “Nunc Dimittis” (“Now Dismiss”). It is only loosely related to the occasion of the birth of Jesus. It declares the praise of God for faithfulness and the redemption of the people. Though some interpret “now you are dismissing your servant in peace” to mean that Simeon was now prepared to die, it can also mean that he recognizes that he is being released from his mission to watch for the coming of the Messiah because he has now seen the coming of the one who will bring salvation.  His blessing relates the birth of Jesus to the fulfillment of the promise of salvation and looks ahead to the inclusion of all peoples in the experience of the blessings of God. Even as the parents of Jesus wonder at what is being said by Simeon, he blesses them and then addresses Mary, the mother of Jesus. He speaks about the coming rejection of Jesus. Not everyone will want to see the light, not everyone will want top receive the salvation by God for all peoples. Not everyone will recognize God coming in Jesus. Jesus will be rejected and treated as someone to be opposed. Even his mother will have to share in his sufferings.

Jesus came not to make us comfortable but to wake us up from our sleep and this is what Simeon had prophesied. He came to challenge our way of looking at the world. This challenge is not easy to accept because it means that many of our preconceived ideas and notions will have to be given up and we will have to start anew. It is easier and more comfortable to live the selfish and self-centered lives that we are used to rather than be concerned about others. It is easier to be caught up in our own small worlds, rather than get out of our wells and see that life is much more than simply having more.

Saturday, December 29, 2018 - 1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35

Saturday, December 29, 2018 - 1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35


  1. How many chapters does the first letter of John contain?

  2. Three
    Five
    Four

  3. For whom was the revelation a light that enlightened?

  4. The Jews
    The Gentiles
    The whole world

  5. How many letter did John write?

  6. One
    Two
    Three

  7. What kind of commandment is John writing?

  8. A new one
    An old one
    A novel one

  9. What was the name of the righteous man in Jerusalem?

  10. Simeon
    Zechariah
    Zebedee

  11. Where does he who loves his/her brother/sister abide?

  12. In darkness
    In the light
    In the world

  13. How can we be sure that we know the Lord?

  14. If we keep his commandments
    If we look up at him
    If we look down on others

  15. Where was Jesus brought to be presented?

  16. To Nazareth
    To Jerusalem
    To Galilee

  17. What did Simeon say would pierce Mary's heart?

  18. A dagger
    A sword
    A knife

  19. What is the message of the readings of today?

  20. Jesus has come to make the comfortable uncomfortable
    Jesus has come to comfort the afflicted
    Jesus has come to afflict the comfortable

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Thursday, 27 December 2018

Audio Reflections of Friday, December 28, 2018 the Holy Innocents

To hear the Audio Reflections of Friday, December 28, 2018 the Holy Innocents click HERE

Friday, December 28, 2018 - Feast of the Holy Innocents - Will you perform one unselfish act today?


To rad the texts click on the texts: 1 Jn 1:5-2:2; Mt 2:13-18
Matthew’s Gospel is the only one of the four which has the story of the killing of innocent children by Herod. A king is born, but a king is already here; and there is room for only one king. The birth of Jesus, the messianic king, precipitates a conflict with the kingship already present in this world.

It is not merely with the historical Herod with whom Matthew is concerned, however, but with Herod as a character in the story, who serves as a foil for the kingdom of God. When this Herod hears of the birth of the new king, he is “troubled”. Matthew is not describing Herod’s psychology but the clash of two claims to kingship that occurs in the advent of Jesus. Herod represents the resistance of this world to the divine kingship represented by Jesus. When “all Jerusalem” is troubled with him, this is not mere sympathy with or fear of Herod. Matthew is again looking ahead to the passion story and implicating Judaism’s capital city as a whole, not only its king, in the rejection of Jesus’ messianic claim.  

When Herod asks the magi the chronological question “When?” to determine the time of Jesus’ birth, he acts hypocritically, claiming that he too wants to worship, but with murder in his heart.

Herod’s slaughter of the innocents is in character with the historical Herod the Great, who was ruthless in maintaining his grasp on power. There is no record of such an act among the detailed records of Herod’s numerous atrocities, nor is it reflected elsewhere in or out of the New Testament. The story seems to be part of Matthew’s Moses typology, with Herod cast in the role of Pharaoh.

Matthew does not sentimentalize the tragedy of the innocent victims or speculate on how the other mothers and fathers of Bethlehem might have interpreted the divine decision to warn one family. His attention is fixed on this event as a fulfillment of Scripture. Matthew does alter his usual formula in such citations of Scripture from his usual “in order that”, and thus avoids saying that the murders happened for the purpose of fulfilling Scripture.

Matthew’s third formula quotation in 2:18-19 is from Jer 31:15. In the New Testament only Matthew explicitly mentions Jeremiah. Jeremiah 31:15 pictures Rachel, matriarch of the tribes of Benjamin and Ephraim (but not of Judah) weeping at Ramah for her “children,” the Israelites, as they are led away captive to Babylon in Jeremiah’s time. Ramah (in the area of Benjamin, five miles north of Jerusalem) was chosen by Jeremiah because one tradition locates Rachel’s tomb there, at the site where Nebuchadnezzar’s troops assembled captives for deportation (Jer 40:1). Another tradition locates Rachel’s tomb at Bethlehem. Matthew combines these traditions to achieve the desired effect. The Jeremiah passage is in a context of hope; it is not clear whether Matthew interprets contextually or whether lamentation is the only note to be heard in this text. In any case, the child Jesus recapitulates the experience of Israel.

Like in Matthew’s day so in ours the war between the two kingdoms continues. Those who regard power as absolute will continue to massacre the innocent. They will continue to destroy others for selfish means. Our response has to be one of courage and hope. Though some will have to suffer because of the selfishness and egoism of a few, there are many more who live unselfish lives for the benefit of others. If each of us were to perform one unselfish act every day, the world becomes a better place for all.

Friday, December 28, 2018 - 1 Jn 1:5-2:2; Mt 2:13-18


Friday, December 28, 2018 - 1 Jn 1:5-2:2; Mt 2:13-18


  1. To whom did the angel appear in a dream?

  2. Mary
    Zechariah
    Joseph

  3. Where was Rachel's voice heard?

  4. In the desert
    In Ramah
    In Egypt

  5. Which prophet wrote about Rachel weeping?

  6. Isaiah
    Jeremiah
    Ezekiel

  7. For whom is Jesus the expiation for sins?

  8. The whole world
    A select few
    All those who want to be saved

  9. To which place was Joseph asked to take the child and mother?

  10. Judah
    Jerusalem
    Egypt

  11. From which prophet is the quotation, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.”?

  12. Hosea
    Jeremiah
    Ezekiel

  13. Who does John say is the advocate in case one sins?

  14. The Holy Spirit
    God the Father
    Jesus Christ

  15. Till when did Joseph remain in Egypt?

  16. Till the child was 12 years old
    Till the death of Herod
    Till he earned enough to return

  17. Whom did Herod kill?

  18. All male children who were under three years of age
    All male children who were under two years of age
    All male children who were under one year of old

  19. What is the message of the readings of today?

  20. The innocent continue to suffer at the hands of the unjust
    God will vindicate the innocent
    We need to practice justice in our individual lives

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Wednesday, 26 December 2018

Thursday, December 27, 2018 - St. John Evangelist - St. John proclaimed Jesus by writing a Gospel. How will you proclaim Jesus today?


To read the texts click on the texts:1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn20:2-8



Saint John whose feast we celebrate today is in the Gospels the brother of James. The brothers were sons of Zebedee and were fishermen. John along with his brother James and Peter were the trio who accompanied Jesus when he raised Jairus' daughter and also on the mountain at the Transfiguration and in Gethsemane.

The Beloved disciple who is a character only in the Gospel of John has often been associated with the disciple and evangelist John.

The Gospel text chosen for the feast is from the Gospel of John and in which the beloved disciple figures. The text speaks about the intuition and faith of the Beloved disciple. On being told by Mary Magdalene that the Tomb in which Jesus lay was empty, he along with Peter ran to the tomb. The beloved disciple saw and believed. He needed no proof. The empty tomb and the words of Jesus before his death were proof enough for him.

What the beloved disciple believed, is the evidence of the empty tomb: not merely that the tomb was empty, but that its emptiness bore witness that Jesus has conquered death and restored life.

Thursday, December 27, 2018 - 1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20:2-8

Thursday, December 27, 2018 - 1 Jn 1:1-4; Jn 20:2-8


  1. How many chapters does the Gospel of John contain?

  2. Twenty
    Twenty-one
    Twenty-two

  3. How many letters did John write?

  4. Three
    Two
    One

  5. What did Peter see besides the linen cloths?

  6. The napkin which had been on Jesus' head
    The nails that pierced Jesus' hands
    The lance that pierced Jesus' side

  7. Which is the longest of the letters that John wrote?

  8. The first
    The fourth
    The second

  9. What did the beloved disciple see when he stooped to look into the tomb?

  10. The body of Jesus
    The linen cloths
    The feet of Jesus

  11. Which is the shortest of the letters that John wrote?

  12. The third
    The second
    The fourth

  13. Why does John say he wrote his letter?

  14. Because he wanted to improve his writing
    So his joy would be complete
    Because he was bored

  15. Who told Peter and the beloved disciple about the empty tomb?

  16. Salome
    Mary Magdalene
    Mary the wife of Clopas

  17. Which of the two whom Mary Magdalene told reached the tomb first?

  18. Peter
    The beloved disciple
    They both reached together

  19. What is the message of the readings of today?

  20. John wrote a Gospel to share his experience of the Lord
    John made Jesus known through his Gospel
    John's Gospel is unique among the four

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Tuesday, 25 December 2018

Audio Reflections of Wednesday, December 26, 2018 - St. Stephen

To hear the Audio Reflections of Wednesday, December 26, 2018 St. Stephen click HERE

Wednesday, December 26, 2018 - Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22


Wednesday, December 26, 2018 - Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22


  1. How many discourses are in the Gospel of Matthew?

  2. Five
    Four
    Six

  3. At whose feet did the witnesses lay down their garments?

  4. At the feet of one of the bystanders
    At the feet of a young man named Saul
    At the feet of a young man named Paul

  5. How was Stephen killed?

  6. He was crucified
    He was beheaded
    He was stoned

  7. Where did Stephen see Jesus standing?

  8. At the left hand of God
    Behind the throne of God
    At the right hand of God

  9. From which discourse of Matthew is the Gospel text of today taken?

  10. The Mission Discourse
    The Community Discourse
    The Parable Discourse

  11. Where did Stephen gaze to see the glory of God?

  12. The earth
    The heavens
    The clouds

  13. Where does Jesus say his disciples are likely to be flogged?

  14. In the synagogues
    In the market place
    In the streets

  15. To which synagogue did those who argued with Stephen belong?

  16. The synagogue of Annas
    The synagogue of Freedmen
    The synagogue of Boundmen

  17. Which is the second discourse in the Gospel of Matthew?

  18. The Mission Discourse
    The Parable Discourse
    The Eschatological Discourse

  19. What is the message of the readings of today?

  20. It is not easy to stand up for the truth
    Stephen was willing to die for the truth
    We are called to live for the Lord

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018 - St. Stephen, Martyr - Stephen dared to die for his Lord. Will you dare to live for him?

To read the texts click on the texts: Acts 6:8-10;7:54-59; Mt 10:17-22

St Stephen is regarded as the first Christian martyr. He was one of the seven deacons appointed by the Apostles when there was dissatisfaction about the distribution of alms. In the first reading of today, the Acts of the Apostles tells the story of how Stephen was tried by the Sanhedrin for blasphemy against Moses and God and also of speaking against the Temple and the Law. He was tried, found guilty and stoned to death.

The Gospel text for the feast of today is part of the Mission Discourse of Matthew. The sayings found in Matthew’s Mission Discourse here are found in the Eschatological Discourse of Mark (Mk 13:9-13). This is an indication that for Matthew, Mission is already eschatological and this is proved through the life and death of Stephen. The punishment, which is referred to here, is not random, but official punishment from members of organised authority. Even in this difficult situation the disciples are offered encouragement. They will depend not on their own strength, but on the Holy Spirit. They are to be missionaries even in the courtroom. Their imprisonment and trial must be regarded as an opportunity to make mission known. Mission takes priority even over family ties and if family ties have to be broken because of mission then so be it. The affirmation of the coming of the Son of Man is probably meant to provide succour to the missionaries in their distress.

Stephen had not read the Mission Discourse and yet had been influenced by the life, Mission and Death of his Master Jesus Christ. He was also confident of the resurrection and of victory even in the face of defeat and death. He knew that if he continued to stand for the truth, he would indeed be victorious.

It is important to note that Stephen did not go around looking for trouble nor did he desire martyrdom for the sake of dying for Jesus. However, he was unafraid to stand for the truth even if it meant giving up his life.


The Jesus who challenged Stephen is the same Jesus who challenges us today. He is not calling us here to be sadists and look for suffering, persecution and pain. Rather he is challenging us to go about doing what we have to do, to be as prudent as possible about it and if despite that persecution, suffering and pain come, to be prepared and ready for it and not to be afraid.

Monday, 24 December 2018

Tuesday, December 25, 2018 - Christmas Day - Christmas makes us who we really are


To read the texts click on the texts: Isaiah 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6;Jn 1:1-18

The birth of every child brings the message that God wants the world to continue, that he is not yet fed up with the ingratitude and sinfulness of the human race. In most cultures in the world, the birth of a child is a cause for great rejoicing and celebration. How much more profound and joyful must this celebration be if the child, born in our midst, is the Son of God?

Christmas is the birth, not merely of a child, but the birth of the child who would change the destiny of humans forever. It is the celebration of the unconditional love of a gracious and generous God who holds nothing back but gives of his very self. It is the celebration of the fact that God wanted so much to be part of the human race that he took on flesh and blood, and thus, became limited so that he could reveal to us our own limitlessness.

This is what the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews speaks about. Though God had been constantly conversing with humanity from the beginning of creation, through prophets and kings, through blessings and punishments, these did not seem to have had the desired effect. Humanity, as a whole, moved further and further away from God. Thus, in the fullness of time, God decided that the way to draw people back to himself would be if he became one like them, in every aspect of their being. This was so that he could feel with our feelings, think with our thoughts and, in doing so, show us who we are meant to be.

The prologue of John, which is the Gospel text for today, echoes this idea when, at the centre, it speaks about the “logos” (the word) becoming “sarx” (flesh) and dwelling among us. This means that the abstract, the indecipherable, the incomprehensible, and the inconceivable, through one decisive act, become concrete, decipherable, comprehensible, and conceivable. The impossible has become possible.

The possibilities that the birth of Jesus have opened up are innumerable. No longer is humanity a disadvantage or a limitation. No longer is humanity something to be looked down upon or to be ashamed of. No longer is humanity weakness. After the birth of Jesus, humanity takes on a new look and a new meaning. Now, there are no limits. Now, humanity need not be confined.  Now, there are no restrictions on how far we can go.  Jesus has shown the way.

However, even as this is true, there is another, and sad, side to the story. The prologue explains it by stating that “the darkness tried to overcome the light”, and “he came unto his own, but his own received him not”. Surprising, astounding, and startling as this may sound, it was true of the time when Jesus came.  It continues to be true even today. Darkness constantly tries to overcome light.

Why would darkness try to overcome the light? Why would his own not receive him? The answer to these questions can be found in the person of Jesus and all for which he stands. First, when he came, he did not come as many were expecting, in pomp, in splendour, and in glory. He did not come, as many would have wanted, mounted on a horse. He did not choose to be born in a palace, as kings usually are. He came in humility, in nothingness, and in total helplessness. He came in the form of a child. This kind of a God seemed, and still seems, an aberration to some and they cannot, they will not, accept him. Second, in a world where authority is interpreted as domination and where rulers expect to be served and not to serve, Jesus’ approach of interpreting authority as service, and his desire to serve and not be served, was regarded as an anomaly. Third, when all logic seems to point to the fact that it is better to have more and accumulate as much as one can for oneself rather than share with others, the life of Jesus, a life spent for the well being of others, was an abnormality. In other words, when Jesus came, he did not fit the pre-conceived and stereotyped notions that people had. He was different, and difference, because it may not be understood, is often rejected.

Yet, despite this rejection of the Word, there is a note of hope and promise.  There continue to be people who will choose light over darkness, who will choose selflessness over selfishness. There will continue to be people who will fight for justice and will never give up this cause. There will continue to be people who will generously give, not only of their wealth, but also, of themselves, in imitation of the one who became human and gave all. Those who opt for the light can continue to do so because their openness to the Incarnate Word and all that he stands for makes them open to receive grace upon grace from him. This abundance of grace continues to sustain them through the most trying times.  It gives them the courage never to give up or to give in, but to continue and carry on.

By taking on our humanity, Jesus has shown us that we can be divine. He has shown us how far we can go, even in our humanity. We can love more, we can dare more, we can believe more, and we can be more. Nothing is now outside the scope of our humanity which, after the birth of Jesus, is no longer a limitation but an advantage. The oracle of Isaiah, composed towards the end of the exile, and which announces the return of the exiles to Jerusalem, finds its fulfilment in the birth of Jesus. Captivity and limitation have come to an end. Now, only freedom and limitlessness are real.

Thus, Christmas is not merely the celebration of a historical birth that took place over two thousand years ago. It is about becoming conscious of who we really are as human beings. It is the celebration of life in all its fullness. It is the celebration of the transformation of limit to limitlessness, of selfishness to selflessness, of bondage to freedom, and of fear to unconditional love.

Those who dare to accept the light and walk in its ways begin to realize that God, himself, walks with them and ahead of them. They know that God does not stay distant from them, remote and isolated.  Rather, they know that, in Jesus, God chose to live with humanity in the midst of human weakness, confusion, and pain. This bond holds true for all times and all places. To become flesh is to know joy, pain, suffering, and loss. It is to love, to grieve, and someday, to die. The incarnation binds Jesus to the “everydayness” of human experience. The Word lived among us, not simply in the world. The Word became flesh and the Word’s name is Jesus Christ. This Jesus continues to be born in our midst, even today. When selflessness triumphs over selfishness, when generosity triumphs over greed, and when light overcomes darkness, then is Jesus born, again, and again, and every day is Christmas.

Christmas Reflections - December 25, 2018


Genesis narrates that humankind was created in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26-28). This means that the origin and identity of the human (male and female) are found only in God. The commission to “be fruitful and multiply”, is indicative of the fact that creation was meant to be ongoing. It was not a static event, but a dynamic one in which humans were invited to be co-creators with God. This is also signposted by the generosity of God in giving to humans “every plant yielding seed… you shall have them for food” (Gen 1:29). Through this munificence, God intended that humans would live in harmony with God, each other and nature.

Initially humans responded to God as God directed them, but soon, things spiralled out of control. The “use” which humans were supposed to make of things, turned to abuse. The harmonious relationships that male and female were meant to have deteriorated into disharmonious and discordant ones. The communion and intimacy with nature turned into hostility, aggression and violence. Cosmos was turned once again into Chaos.

On numerous occasions God intervened and tried to restore the harmony that was intended (Heb 1:1). This was done in a variety of ways. God sent prophets, messengers, kings as well as blessings and benedictions, and reminders through catastrophes, calamities and devastations. To these there was initially a positive response, but soon humans forgot themselves and again and again, Cosmos turned to Chaos. We tried to figure God out and the result was God was made in our image and likeness.

Finally God decide to choose a way that had never been tried before. God would become human in every sense of the word through his Son. In this way, God could feel, think, experience, talk and act like humans and through this recreate the Cosmos. It was thus in the fullness of time that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ. The reason why God chose this way was to liberate us not from the world but in and through the world. It was to show that God in the flesh made visible in Jesus is inextricably bound with our history. It was to show that this world was good and that it was possible to live unselfishly and still live full lives. It was to show that love was the only reality and that genuine love was unconditional.

Christmas is thus the celebration of Jesus as fully human in every sense of the word (Gal 4:4-6). The fact that Jesus remained in his mother’s womb and was born of Mary like every other human is clearly God’s way of making explicit that Jesus was like us in every single way. This fact is important, because through it we realise who we are as humans. His birth as a human makes us aware of our own limitlessness and the potential that is dormant is all of us as humans. It gives us a vision of the present and the future. It also reveals to us who we are now and how much we can be. The humanity of the divine gives us a glimpse into our own divinity.

The name chosen for the child indicated who he would be. While it was usually the prerogative of the father to choose the name for the child, in the case of Jesus, it was not his foster father Joseph, but his true father God who chose the name through the angel (Lk 1:31; Mt 1:31). As a matter of fact in the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph is told why the child would be named Jesus “you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (1:21). Jesus would live out his name in the truest sense of the word. In doing so, he would also reveal who God is.

In his humanity, Jesus scaled heights like no one before him had ever done. The prophets, kings and messengers God had sent, paled in comparison with who Jesus was and what he did. His way of living was so novel, unique and radical that even the pre-cursor John wondered how it was possible for anyone to live in this manner (Mt 11:2-5). This was because Jesus came with a one point agenda which was to communicate the unfathomable, immeasurable and endless love of God for all of humanity and the Cosmos.

Jesus proclaimed this fact in his initial proclamation in Galilee in which he declared that God’s love had come for all and we had only to open our hearts to receive it (Mk 1:15; Mt 4:17). In this manifesto, especially sinners were accepted, acknowledged and loved for who they were (Mk 2:17; Lk 4:18-21). The repentance of the sinner was a consequence of their having received the love and forgiveness of God (Lk 7:47). There were no conditions that had to be fulfilled, because the mercy of God in Jesus, was grace and not merit (1 Jn 4:10). The spontaneous response to such unmerited love, grace, mercy and forgiveness could only be that one was willing to look at oneself anew and consequently look at others and the whole of creation in a new way.

Jesus showed this acceptance in a tangible and concrete way through his healings and exorcisms. These were not an appendix to his mission, but were as much a part of it as his verbal proclamation. As a matter of fact in his response to the disciples of John the Baptist who were sent to ask him if he was the Messiah, Jesus replied by pointing to both his miracles and his proclamation (Lk 7:22). This indicated that he was indeed sent by the Father to heal the broken world and restore it to the glorious cosmos it was meant to be.

Even as Jesus made every attempt to restore the world, not everyone was able to accept this agenda. He met with aggressive opposition every step of the way. This, however, did not deter or frighten him and he persevered loving even and especially when love was not returned and taught everyone who followed him to do the same (Mt 5:43-47). This kind of love had never been experienced or witnessed before and it was too much for some to bear. Since they could not understand it, they condemned and with it, the one who loved in this way. They managed to manipulate the situation in such a manner that this love was seen as scandalous, shocking and an abomination and succeeded in nailing him to a tree (Jn 19:7,16). Despite the fact that he was crucified, the legacy of love that he brought from God continued in his disciples, and continues even today.

To be sure, we live in a world in which corruption, selfishness, injustice, intolerance, communal disharmony and racial and caste discrimination continue to raise their ugly heads. The wanton destruction of nature and its use for selfish reasons is evident even to those who cannot see. In such a world then, the relevance of Christmas is even more striking. Christmas asks us to go back to God’s unconditional love manifested in creation. It asks us to rebuild those harmonious relationships with God, others and nature as God intended. It asks us to persevere in love as Jesus taught, even when love is not returned or spurned. Christmas challenges us to continue the mission of Jesus to build a better world. It calls us to know that the divine became human so that we might realise and live out our own divinity.

Tuesday, December 25, 2018 - Isaiah 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18

Tuesday, December 25, 2018 - Isaiah 52:7-10; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18


  1. How many chapters does the letter to the Hebrews contain?

  2. Twelve
    Thirteen
    Eighteen

  3. What does John say was in the beginning?

  4. The Word
    The World
    Chaos

  5. How did God speak of old?

  6. Through a son
    Through the prophets
    Through the angels

  7. What was the name of the man sent from God?

  8. Isaiah
    John
    Jeremiah

  9. Through whom was the law given?

  10. Abraham
    Joshua
    Moses

  11. How did God speak in these last days?

  12. Through the prophets
    Through a son
    Through the angels

  13. At which hand of the majesty did Jesus sit after he had made purification for sin?

  14. The left hand
    The right hand
    I do not know

  15. What has the Lord bared?

  16. His chest
    His shoulders
    His arm

  17. What has come through Jesus Christ?

  18. Grace and truth
    Grace and love
    Truth and love

  19. What is the message of the readings of today?

  20. Jesus is born and all is well
    Jesus means God saves
    Jesus is the Saviour of the world

Thanks for taking the Quiz. I hope it makes the word of God more relevant. Let me know on errolsj@gmail.com. Suggestions are always welcome.

Sunday, 23 December 2018

Audio Reflections of Monday, December 24, 2018

To hear the Audio Reflections of Monday, December 24, 2018 click HERE

Monday, December 24, 2018 - Does fear still rule the larger majority of your actions? What will you do about it today?

To read the texts click on the texts: 2 Sam 7:1-5,8-12.14.16; Lk 1:67-79

Zechariah’s song, which is traditionally called “The Benedictus” (Blessed), is the text which the Church reads on the day before Christmas. It may be seen to be divided into two parts. The first part praises God for his messianic deliverance and the second speaks of John the Baptist’s role in this deliverance.  

The progression of thought in the Benedictus shows that the true end of God’s redemption is not merely deliverance from political domination, but the creation of conditions in which God’s people can worship and serve God without fear. When people are released from external domination, they can worship in peace. The people of God are a covenant people, saved and rescued by the hand of God.  God has thereby fulfilled the promises to Abraham and to David. Holiness and righteousness are to mark God’s people “all the days of our life”. The hymn comes to a climax as it describes the place of John in God’s redemptive work. John’s birth announced God’s new deliverance. John would be a prophet who would go before the Lord.  Four infinitives outline the progress of God’s redemptive work. The first two describe the role of John the Baptist. The last two allude to the inauguration of the kingdom, “when the day shall dawn upon us from on high”.

The mark of the redeemed is that they live out of the knowledge of God that has been given to them. Darkness is dispelled by the revelation of God’s being and God’s grace toward us. Finally, through John’s call for justice and righteousness, and far more through Jesus’ unique ministry, God would “guide our feet into the way of peace”   
    
The Benedictus links the promise of salvation and redemption inseparably to the achievement of peace. God’s people cannot have redemption without peace, for each is necessary for the realization of the other. It affirms that God’s purposes are being fulfilled in the delivering of his people from the hands of their oppressors. Their feet are being guided in the way of peace so that they may worship without fear.